Tractable means for vehicles.



W. H. PRESTON.

TRACTABLE MEANS FOR VEHICLES.

APPLlCATlON FILED JUNE 28. 1.915.

Patented Aug. 24,1915.

WILLIAM H. PRESTON, OF BANGOR, WISCONSIN.

TRACTABLE MEANS FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 24s, 1915.

Application filed June 28, 1915. Serial No. 36,839.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. PRnsToN,

. a citizen of the United States, residing at Bangor, in the county of La Grosse and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tractable Means for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to tractable means for vehicles, and it is an object of the invention to provide a means of this general character which may be employed with convenience and facility to cause the driving wheels of a vehicle to obtain a requisite grip especially in sandy, slippery or muddy spaces.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide an equipment of this general character which may be readily carried by the vehicle when not in use and occupy a minimum of space.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved tractable means for vehicles whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device-is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the appended claims.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view in perspective illustrating an embodiment of my invention, a second operation being indicated by dotted lines; and Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in top plan illustrating a further embodiment of my invention.

As disclosed in Fig. 1, 1.denotes a continuous length of flexible material bent upon itself to afford the parallel strands 2, the free extremities of the strands being provided with the eyes 3 to be suitably engaged with anchoring members A or which, in some instances, may be held in the hands of an individual.

The strands 2 from their inner or connect-v ed ends' have secured thereto a plurality of transversely disposed flexible members 5, the extremities of each of said members being secured to the strands'2 by the clips 6.

In the event that the strands 2 and the transverse strips 4 are formed of fibrous material, said strands 2 and transverse strips 4 may be interwoven or spliced, although in practice I have found that the clips 5 may be employed withequal facility, each of said clips consisting only of a length of wire of requisite gage suitably wound about the strands 2 and the extremities of the transverse strips 4.

In the form of invention hereinbefore set forth, it is not necessary that the device be secured to the wheel with which it coacts as suflicient frictional resistance is created thereby as to assure the proper travel or ad vance of the wheel. In certain instances, however, it is essential that the device be secured directly to the wheel and, as dis:

closed inFig. 2, the side strands 2 are independent one of the other throughout their lengths and an extremity of one of said strands is provided with the eye 6 throughwhich the adjacent end portion of the opposite strand 2 is adapted to be directed whereby it will be perceived that an effective connection with the spoke of the coact ing wheel may be had with convenience and facility.

It is to be observed in all of the forms of my invention as herein embodied, that the connection between the transverse strips 4; and the strands 2 or 2* is such as to result in a substantially U-shape formation of the transverse strips with the bases thereof disposed in a direction toward the wheel with which it coacts.

f It has been found in practice that my invention may be readily and conveniently employed without the necessity of anchoring the same in any way, as it will work by merely placingthe device in front of the v wheel without either holding itor staking, although when the surface over which the vehicle is traveling may be unusually'shppery, by reason of ice or otherwise, the efv i particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which i it may be assembled, and it will also be ob- .vious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without mate* rial departure from the principles and ing out my invention in practice.

if spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the" several parts herein shown in carry- I also find itfof advantage to provide the looped end ofthe device, as disclosed in Fig.

1, with the stringers 7 -whereby' said extremity of the device may be suitably 3111 chored in operative position.

I claim: 1. Means for the prising parallel flexi 1e strands, and transversely disposed flexible strips connecting I said strands, the connections between the strips and strands being such as to dispose the intermediate portions of the strips in the same general direction. q

2. Means for the purpose set forth comprising parallel flexible strarid and transurpose set forth coma Witnesses:

versely' disposed -strips connecting said strands, the connections between the strips and strands being suchas. to dispose the intermediateportions of the strips in the same general direction, adjacent extremities of the strands being provided with eyes.

3. Means for the purpose set forth com-- same general direction, an extremity of, one.

of the strands being provided with an eye.

.4; Means for the purpose set forth consisting of a single length of material arranged to afford parallel strands, and transversely disposed flexiblestrips connecting .said strands, the free extremities of the strands being provided with eyes.

In testimony whereof 'I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. WILLIAM H. PRESTON.

E. J. Wrens,- L. J. ROBERTS. 

